Tennis is often seen as an individual sport, but this season, the Masters Boys Varsity Tennis team is playing as one. With a mix of returning players and new talent, the team brings energy, focus, and healthy competition to every practice and match.
This year, the team has eight new members and six returners. “The new members of the team have had a tremendous impact,” said Head Coach Michael Moshan. “Not only have they brought a certain level of skill to the team, but also an intensity. The six remaining players from last year, right from the beginning, have been inspired by the new players too. Everyone is pushing everyone. They’re blending and coming together. It’s a beautiful thing to see.”
This focus on chemistry has defined the team’s identity this season. Moshan said, “There’s a feeling that we can compete with anyone this year. That dynamic of confidence and belief is contagious and it’s spreading into the fabric of this team.”
Senior captain Aaron Weinberg echoed that sense of growth. He said, “One thing we’ve been super focused on this year is trying to create a new team dynamic with all of the incoming freshmen and sophomores, so spending a lot of time communicating, like, ‘This is what we expect from everyone,’ and also, ‘We’re going to have fun. We want to win because we have a much better team this year than we did last year.’”
Weinberg added that the team’s competitive mindset has already shown on court. “We’ve had a lot of very close matches against teams like Rye and Collegiate, which are normally very tough. It’s been fun seeing how everyone is super competitive on court during matches, something we didn’t always have last year or in years prior.”
Senior Nikita Montgomery shared a similar perspective. “This year the dynamic has really changed because we got a lot of young talent. There’s a lot of drive, a lot of energy, and a real willingness to improve. In my three years on the team, this is the most energy and commitment I’ve seen.” He continued, “The team is really exciting, and definitely the best team I’ve been on. I can’t wait to come back in two or three years and see how much the younger players have grown.”
Among the most notable new members is eighth grader Simon Dorment. “He’s been a wonderful addition to the team,” said Moshan. “He’s played some excellent opponents including a senior captain from a bona fide FAA team with a sophisticated game. I can tell already that Simon is a unique tennis talent. He plays such a mature, thoughtful game. He also works hard at practice and is dedicated to the team. His teammates love him too – he’s a great kid.”
Reflecting on his own experience so far, Simon said, “Tennis is kind of like a chess match where it’s just as strategic as it is skill wise. It’s about playing the right shots at the right moments. I think I’ve definitely improved on that since joining the team.”
Junior Caleb Grasheim, who served as a captain last year as a sophomore, is once again helping lead the team. “We’re all one big team of brothers,” Grasheim said. “What I really love to see is how comfortable the eighth graders feel around us.” He added, “I’m very proud of our team. Everyone is looking to support each other — and I think that’s the best thing anyone could ask for.”
